It’s already been a few years since the 2022 NFL Draft took place at the Caesars Forum in Paradise, Nevada.
Make no mistake, it’s way too early to judge the careers of each 2022 first-round pick after just a couple of seasons. But if teams had the benefit of hindsight and got to re-do the first round, how might things play out?
Here is our official re-drafting of the first round for the 2022 NFL draft.
Which ones from the 2022 NFL Draft class moved up and down from their original selection?
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson
Many expected the Jaguars to go with the more polished Hutchinson here, but they instead took Georgia’s Travon Walker with the top pick.
Walker had a solid rookie year, but Hutchinson performed like a seasoned vet. The Michigan product led all rookies with 9.5 sacks, for starters. Even as a defensive end, Hutchinson recorded three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries.
2. Detroit Lions: Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner
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The Lions aren’t complaining about landing Hutchinson with the No. 2 pick, but he’s not available in this redraft. So let’s give the Lions the next best player available in Sauce Gardner, who won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after an all-world season.
The Lions have had one of football’s worst pass defenses for a half decade and counting, but Gardner alone would have turned this secondary into a more respectable unit.
3. Houston Texans: Travon Walker
Walker didn’t “wow” the world during his rookie year, but the Texans oughta bank on his upside here. Plus, new head coach DeMeco Ryans would easily maximize Walker’s skill set in his blitz-happy defense.
Houston hasn’t had a true game-changing pass-rusher since prime JJ Watt. Taking Walker would change that.
4. New York Jets: Derek Stingley Jr.
The Jets are obviously thrilled they came away with Sauce Gardner in this slot in the 2022 NFL draft. But they’ll have to settle on the next-best corner in Stingley Jr., who probably would have done more as a rookie in Robert Saleh’s defense compared to Lovie Smith’s.
Stingley Jr. had an inconsistent rookie year and missed eight games to injury. He’s still going to be a star in this league, and the Jets would’ve happily settled on him in a do-over with Gardner off the board.
5. New York Giants: Garrett Wilson
The Ohio State product won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after racking up 83 receptions for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns for the Jets. Surely, he would have gone much earlier than 10th overall if teams knew what was ahead.
The G-Men made the playoffs last year without any true game-changing receiving threats. Adding Wilson to the offense would make this group that much scarier for years to come.
6. Carolina Panthers: Kayvon Thibodeaux
Thibodeaux was once viewed as the top prospect in the 2022 NFL draft, but questions about his work ethic led to him sliding. In the redo, he falls just one spot – to the Panthers — at No. 6 overall.
Thibodeaux had four sacks and two forced fumbles in his rookie year. There’s another gear for him to kick into, though, and the idea of him working alongside superstar Brian Burns would be a terrifying thought for the rest of the NFC.
7. New York Giants: Tyler Linderbaum
The Giants took Evan Neal with this pick, but the Alabama product had a frustrating rookie year that saw him miss four games.
So here, let’s give the Giants arguably the top rookie offensive lineman of 2022 in Tyler Linderbaum. He was a rock in the run-blocking game for the Baltimore Ravens and allowed just three sacks on 1,092 offensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Linderbaum and Andrew Thomas would give the Giants an all-star duo along the offensive line – something that they’ve sorely lacked for years.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Chris Olave
Drake London had a very solid rookie year, but Olave was the second-most productive first-year receiver of the 2022 NFL draft class, despite missing two games.
Olave hauled in 72 receptions for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns. Only Garrett Wilson finished with more yards and catches as a first-year receiver. Think Atlanta might’ve liked Olave as a complement to Kyle Pitts, Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson?
9. Seattle Seahawks: Charles Cross
The Seahawks hit a home run with the Cross selection, so why change things? He and fellow rookie Abraham Lucas completely changed the dynamic of Seattle’s offensive line — an area that was always a weak spot during the Russell Wilson era.
10. New York Jets: Drake London
With Wilson off the board, the Jets take the best available receiver in Drake London. Despite playing in a run-heavy Atlanta offense, London hauled in 72 catches for 866 yards and four touchdowns.
London’s massive 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame would’ve made him a key weapon in the Jets’ offense.
11. New Orleans Saints: George Pickens
With Olave unavailable, the Saints follow the Jets’ move by taking the best receiver left. In this case, it’s Georgia product George Pickens, who somehow slipped down to the Pittsburgh Steelers in round two at No. 52 overall in the 2022 NFL draft.
Despite mediocre play from Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks, Pickens caught 52 passes for 801 yards and four touchdowns. He made a handful of acrobatic, highlight-reel grabs, and he would’ve found his footing in this New Orleans offense without issue.
12. Detroit Lions: Jaquan Brisker
The Chicago Bears’ safety was one of the top rookies of 2022, recording an interception, two pass defenses, a forced fumble and four sacks. And per Pro Football Reference, Brisker yielded only a 56.3 completion percentage when targeted.
Sauce Gardner and Brisker patrolling Detroit’s secondary? Now we’d be talking about a top-flight defense.
13. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Pitre
This pick here is thanks to the benefit of hindsight since the Eagles lost CJ Gardner-Johnson in free agency.
Philly already has two of the game’s top corners in James Bradberry and Darius Slay. Now imagine if they also had the Baylor safety to complement those two in the secondary. On a lousy Houston team, Pitre had five interceptions, eight pass defenses and one sack. Think Nick Sirianni and company might like a do-it-all playmaker like that?
14. Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Hamilton
Nothing to change here. The Ravens are extremely fortunate that Hamilton somehow slipped to them at No. 14, even though many scouts and analysts had him ranked as a top-five prospect for the 2022 NFL draft class.
Hamilton flourished in Mike Macdonald’s defense as a Swiss army knife, making plays in coverage, in the run-stopping department and even as a pass-rusher. He finished the year with two sacks, and five passes defended, despite only playing 53 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in year one.
Now it’s time for Hamilton to take his game to an All-Pro level moving forward.
15. Houston Texans: Abraham Lucas
Houston had the right idea when they took a guard with this pick, but Kenyon Green largely disappointed as a rookie and showed there’s plenty of work to do.
Washington State right tackle Abraham Lucas fell to the Seahawks in the No. 72 spot. Named to PFF’s All-Rookie Team, Lucas flourished as a run blocker and provided ample pass protection for Geno Smith — who, in turn, had a career year for the Seahawks.
Also Read: Ranking All 32 NFL Teams As They Prepare For The 2024 Draft
16. Washington Commanders: Brock Purdy
Everyone knows the story of 2022 Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy, who saved the San Francisco 49ers’ season by winning his first seven starts before a UCL injury in the NFC Championship Game derailed the team’s title hopes.
Is Purdy simply a product of playing in Kyle Shanahan’s QB-friendly system? Maybe, maybe not. The QB-needy Commanders have to find out one way or another. Purdy wouldn’t be short on weapons in D.C., with Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Tariq Woolen
The Chargers’ pass defense has been a problem over the last two years despite strong play from Derwin James Jr. and Asante Samuel Jr. Maybe Tariq Woolen, a Pro Bowler in his rookie year, is the final piece needed to turn this unit around.
Woolen was a fifth-round pick at No. 153 overall in the 2022 NFL draft, and he immediately transformed Seattle’s secondary by notching six interceptions — tied for the league lead — and a whopping 18 passes defended.
Sounds like a guy the Chargers could use to defend against Patrick Mahomes…
18. Tennessee Titans: Christian Watson
Wide receiver was a position of need after Tennessee traded AJ Brown to Philly. But Treylon Burks was inconsistent in the 11 games he started, and the Titans’ lack of a pass-catching threat cost them a fourth straight playoff berth.
Even though he missed three games, Christian Watson had nine total touchdowns for the Green Bay Packers last year. The North Dakota State product would have been an ideal deep threat for a Titans team that struggled without AJ Brown.
19. New Orleans Saints: Evan Neal
Neal had a tough rookie year with the Giants, but he surely would’ve had more success in The Big Easy. Neal would have worked with star offensive tackle Ryan Ramcyzk plus standout center Erik McCoy and guards Andrus Peat and Cesar Ruiz.
Even if Neal didn’t perform well as a rookie, he would be in a good position to adapt his game quickly and grow into a cornerstone on one of the game’s top offensive lines.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett
The Steelers have no regrets over making Pickett the first QB taken in the 2022 NFL draft. He had his ups and downs like any rookie QB, but he also showed enough promise to cement himself as the long-term starter in Steel City.
With a wealth of weapons around him, Pickett should hit a Pro Bowl level any day now.
21. Kansas City Chiefs: George Karlaftis
Kansas City landed the Purdue defensive end with the No. 30 selection. But in this re-draft, they simply won’t risk letting him slip out of their hands.
Karlaftis started slow but managed to finish with six sacks, two fumble recoveries and seven passes defended. Karlaftis was a difference-maker in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl 57 championship journey as well. With Frank Clark gone, expect Karlaftis to shine in an expanded role.
22. Green Bay Packers: Jahan Dotson
The Packers had two first-round picks but waited until round two to find a receiver for Aaron Rodgers. Christian Watson was a nice find at No. 34 overall, but he’s off the board this time around — so the Cheeseheads gotta go elsewhere.
The Pack happily settled on Jahan Dotson, who tied Watson in receiving touchdowns among rookies with seven — despite missing five games. Sounds like a guy Rodgers could have used on a Green Bay offense that never gained consistency in 2022.
23. Buffalo Bills: Kenneth Walker III
The Bills were eliminated in the Divisional Round for the second straight year, and the over-reliance on Josh Allen in the rushing game was a key reason why.
Imagine if the Bills had Kenneth Walker III to lead their backfield? All he did in 15 games was rush for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns for the Seahawks. Shall we mention the Bills haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since LeSean McCoy in 2017?
Yeah, we think Buffalo’s high-powered offense would’ve happily welcomed a guy like Walker had they had the chance to select him in the 2022 NFL draft.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Smith
Here’s another pick that we refuse to change. Jerry Jones got it right the first time and shouldn’t have any regrets.
Another member of the PFF 2022 All-Rookie team, Smith slotted in nicely on Dallas’ o-line and immediately produced. He had his struggles as a rookie, but Smith was a force in the run-blocking department and also played 121 snaps at guard.
25. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Davis
Baltimore’s defensive line relied too much on aging assets like Justin Houston and Calais Campbell. So let’s give them run-stopping sensation Jordan Davis to beef up the interior d-line for years to come.
Davis and Hamilton in the first round? That would have been a very nice haul for GM Eric DeCosta.
26. New York Jets: Breece Hall
The Jets got Hall in round two with the No. 36 pick in the 2022 NFL draft, but they simply aren’t going to risk anything here. Hall was on his way to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors before a season-ending ACL tear, racking up 463 rushing yards, 218 receiving yards and five total touchdowns in just seven games.
Hall is a star in the making here. Why wouldn’t the Jets just play it safe and grab him in this spot?
27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Lloyd
Yet another original pick that we don’t think needs to be changed one year later.
Lloyd was instrumental in helping the Jaguars close out the second half on a scorching-hot run that culminated in a surprise AFC South division title. Lloyd had 115 combined tackles, three interceptions, eight pass defenses and two fumble recoveries.
28. Green Bay Packers: James Houston
Houston’s teammate, Aidan Hutchinson, was the only rookie to finish with more sacks last year. Houston finished with eight on the season, forming a prolific pass-rushing duo alongside the No. 2 pick.
The Packers used this pick on Devonta Wyatt, who had a frustrating and unproductive rookie year. Let’s give them Houston instead, and watch him do wonders on that star-studded defense.
29. New England Patriots: Quay Walker
Bill Belichick loves do-it-all linebackers and defensive generals who can take over games with their explosive abilities and high football IQ. Walker shined as a rookie for Green Bay in a limited role, but we’re sure he would have fared even better on New England’s defense.
The Pats’ D has sorely missed an in-his-prime Dont’a Hightower. Selecting Walker in the 2022 NFL draft could have been his replacement in Foxborough.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Dameon Pierce
Seventh-rounder Isaiah Pacheco played a big role in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl championship season. So with this pick, the Chiefs gotta play it safe and ensure they have a productive running back for Patrick Mahomes.
Dameon Pierce of the Texans racked up 939 rushing yards and four touchdowns despite missing four games. That production would be welcomed with open arms by Andy Reid and company.
31. Cincinnati Bengals: Jamaree Salyer
The Chargers found a gem in Jamaree Salyer, who went in the sixth round at No. 195 overall. Losing star offensive tackle Rashawn Slater should have been a brutal blow, but Salyer softened the damage with steady production on the o-line.
The Bengals got to the AFC Championship Game again despite a shaky pass-blocking unit. They waste no time addressing that issue in a re-draft by taking the versatile lineman.
32. Minnesota Vikings: Jack Jones
Minnesota’s atrocious secondary led to them being a one-and-done postseason squad. If only they had some guys who, you know, could make a stop on defense?
New England’s Jack Jones — the No. 121 pick in the 2022 NFL draft — would have been useful here. He notched two picks, six pass defenses and yielded just a 64.8 passer rating when targeted, per Pro Football Reference. Jones also didn’t allow a single touchdown in coverage.
In other words, he’s someone Minnesota really could have used!
Also Read: All 32 NFL Teams’ Biggest Draft Steal of the Past Five Years (From 2019 to 2023)
